Nautical tourism in Croatia is extremely important for the entire tourism sector and the economic development of the country. With an indented coastline of almost 6,000 kilometers, including more than 1,200 islands, Croatia attracts sailors from all over the world thanks to its natural beauty, rich history, exceptional infrastructure and favorable conditions for sailing from early spring to latea utumn. What makes Croatia stand out in the nautical world is the fact that the country has the largest charter fleet in the world, with around 4,500 vessels, and that number is constantly growing.
The largest part of that fleet, about 70%, is located in the Split water area, a region that has profiled itself as a center of nautical tourism. Thanks to this success, Croatia currently occupies almost 40% of the global charter market. At the same time, the country has more than 70 marinas and a total of 17,000 moorings, which enables it to be one of the leading destinations in Europe for sailors.
One of the key factors in the success of Croatian nautical tourism is the consumption of boaters. Research shows that the average boater spends around 200 euros per day, which is significantly more than the average tourist. This higher consumption directly contributes to local economies, especially on islands and coastal towns where marinas are located. Also, an increasing share of sailors comes from households with high incomes, with as many as 78% of sailors in 2022 coming from households with monthly incomes above 3,500 euros, which represents a significant increase compared to 2017.
Nautical charter tourism recorded a record number of overnight stays in 2023, with more than 3.6 million overnight stays, which represents an increase of 2% compared to the record year of 2019. This growth was partly driven by changes in travel habits during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many tourists preferred individualized forms of travel, such as boat charters, instead of traditional group travel.
The Croatian coast offers sailors much more than just sailing. With its rich cultural heritage, historical sights, national parks and superb gastronomic offer, Croatia is an ideal destination for those who want to combine adventure and luxury.
Although Croatian nautical tourism has impressively developed, there is room for further progress. One of the key challenges is the modernization and expansion of marina infrastructure, especially in less developed parts of the coast. It is necessary to further improve technical services, as well as the availability of moorings, which would enable an even greater influx of boaters, and thus a greater contribution to the local economy. In addition to investing in infrastructure, it is also important to further educate the workforce and improve technical services in marinas. Nautical tourism has immeasurable potential for further development in Croatia. Given the existing resources, proximity to the European market, natural beauty and long-standing tradition, this sector can continue to play a key role in the development of Croatian tourism. With additional investments and modernization, Croatia could strengthen its status as a global leader in nautical tourism and significantly increase its economic contribution through this specific branch of tourism.
